Combined crane and bulldozer



Nov. 20, 1956 A. s. RYMKEvlTcH 2,770,895

COMBINED CRANE AND BULLDOZER Filed Dec. 9, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l sin Il" INVENTOR.

Halma@ 5.' FJ/MKZ'VM'Q? N0 20, 1956 A. s. RYMKEvlTcH 2,770,895

COMBINED CRANE AND BULLDOZER Filed Dem 9, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent l1 cey COMBINED CRANE AND BULLDOZER Arnold S. Rymkevitch, Boiceville, N. Y. Application December 9, 1954, Serial No. 474,192

s claims. (cl. 37 117.s)

This invention relates to bulldozers equipped to function dually as a crane.

Frequently in construction operations involving bulldozers, heavy cumbersome objects such as tree stumps, beams, tanks, etc. are encountered, requiring the services of a` crane. To involve an additional piece of heavy machinery, such as a crane, introduces large additional expenses, in addition to the loss of time required to maneuver the crane into operating position. Consequently, the great utility of a bulldozer which can rapidly be converted into a crane is apparent.

Although the prior art reveals devices combining the crane and bulldozer functions, these devices are quite complex, involving additional powering mechanisms to produce the desired result. Moreover, due to the complexity of the crane attachments, a great deal of time is consumed in making the modification, or the function of the bulldozer is hampered by the crane being in operative position.

Consequently, the primary inventive object is to provide a bulldozer with a crane boom that can be rapidly attached in operative position in such a manner whereby the boom is operated by the bulldozer controls without involving additional power connections to the boom.

A further inventive object involves the provision of a detachable crane boom for a conventional bulldozer, whereby one end of the boom is pivoted to the bulldozer chassis, and the bulldozer blade arm supports the boom intermediate its ends.

Further objects and inventive details will become apparent from the following description, when taken in connection with the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the combined bulldozer and crane, showing the crane boom in operative position.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the hook end of the crane boom.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the pivot connection between the bulldozer chassis and the boom, and also the roller guide on the bulldozer blade.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the parts shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a section through 5 5 of Figure 4.

Referring to Figure l, the conventional bulldozer 10 is seen comprising the treads 11, the extensible blade frame 12 carrying the blade 13, said frame 12 -being pivoted at 14 to the bracket 15. An hydraulic power cylinder 16 is ailxed to the bracket 17, the power piston 9 being pivotally connected to the bell crank 18, which through the link 19 causes the frame 12 to rotate about the pivot 14; the foregoing structure all being conventional. The novelty involved herein is achieved by pivotally securing the boom 20 to the radiator guard 21 and providing an intermediate boom support 5 projecting from the top of the blade 13.

The details of these novel modifications can be better understood from Figure 3, wherein the steel band straps 22 and 23 are welded to the protruding protective abutment 24. Straps 22 and 23 are provided with parallel 2,770,895 Patented Nov. 2o, 1956 forward extending ears 25 and 26 having the concentric holes 27 and 28. To the outer faces of the ears .are welded the vertical angles 29 and 30 whose formally extending legs abut the ears 25 and 26 and include holes in alignment with the holes 27 and 28. Additional perforations 31 and 32 are provided for the purposes of carrying the pivot bolt 33 when the boom is not in use. The bottom portions 34 and 35 of the outstanding angle legs are similarly secured to the underside of the radiator guard, providing a sturdy connection between the radiator guard and the angles.

Referring again to Figure 4, it is seen that the boom support 5 is secured to the top surface 6 of the blade 13. In Figure 5, the boom support 5 is seen to comprise the bracket 37 having the aligned holes 38 for the reception of the pins 39 and 40 which extend from the roller 41which supports the boom 20. For boom guiding purposes, the plates 42 and 43 are secured to the sides of the bracket 37.

The boom 20 is placed in operative position by aligning the holes through the rear end of the boom with the holes 27 and 28, and then inserting the pin or bolt 33 (see Figure 4). The body of the boom is inserted between the plates 42, 43 to bear on the roller 41.

In operation, starting from the lower blade position L of Figure l, by actuating the power cylinder 16 the frame 12 is caused to move upwardly pivoting about 14, thereby causing the boom support 5 to force the boom 20 upwardly. Thus, boom 20 pivots about the pin 33 while the hook end 44 moves upwardly carrying with it any desired load, such as the I-beam 45. Due to the roller 41, there is little wear or tear involved due to the relative movement between the boom and the boom support.

It is to be further noted that no new power connection from lthe operator to the boom is required. The

power transmitted to the blade is utilized to operate the boom. When not in operative position, the boom is carried along the bulldozer side in a manner which does not interfere with the bulldozing operations.

Due to the simplicity of the adaptation only three and one-half minutes are required to convert the bulldozer into a crane. When translated into money and time saved, one can well appreciate the utility herein involved.

It should further be understood that the various species resulting from different arrangements of the com binative elements or from changes in size, shape or material, are all within the inventive scope.

Having thus described the nature of the invention, what is claimed as new is as follows:

l. A bulldozer comprising a tractor and an earth moving blade attached to the forward extremity of a pair of longitudinally extending push arms, the rearward extremity of each said push arms being pivoted to said tractor, the portion intermediate the forward and rearward extremities of said push arms being connected to a power actuating mechanism, a boom, a bracket comprising an arcuate portion secured to the front end of said tractor having a pair of fixed longitudinally ex* tending ears, one end of said boom being pivotally' connected between said ears for fixed pivotal movement relative to said tractor, a support atixed to an upper surface of said blade comprising a guide bracket having a pair of spaced legs and a roller rotatably supported therebetween, said roller being adapted to support said boom in longitudinal rolling engagement thereon intermediate the longitudinal extremities of said boom, said arcuate bracket further comprising reinforcing struts secured to said ears and extending below said arcuate portion into securing engagement with said tractor at a point beneath said arcuate portion.

2. A bulldozer, as in claim l, wherein the arcuate por 2,770,895 3 tion of said arcuate tractor bracket is connected to the radiator guard of said tractor.

3. A bulldozer, as in claim 2, wherein said boom rests upon said roller and loosely ts between the said spaced 2,173,406 parallel legs, said legs extending above the bottom edge l 2,387,764 of the boom for guiding purposes.

References Cited in the file of this patent I UNITED STATES PATENTS Wilkinson Sept. 19, 1939 Maxwell Oct. 30, 1945 Murphy May 10, 1949 Holleman Nov. 15, 1949 Dyer July 19, 1955 

